Cons

Bottom Line

This three-tower, off-the-Strip hotel is known for its crazy parties and celebrity stopovers. It features 428 sleek rooms with up-to-date technologies; numerous popular clubs, and two large pool areas. But while there are some good restaurants, the food is not a main attraction, unlike at similarly priced Strip centerpieces such as MGM or Mandalay Bay, or even at off-the-Strip Hard Rock, which boasts a Nobu.

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Scene

It's all about the party -- both at the pool and at the clubs -- and the crowd reflects that.

The pool bar

The Palms has a reputation for being a party hotel. Whether it's Britney Spears entertaining in a penthouse or Michael Phelps hanging by the pool, partiers -- famous and otherwise -- like to hang at the Palms. And it's understandable why. With three great clubs and a rowdy pool scene, the Palms knows how to party. The hotel reached global popularity when seven strangers moved in for five months for the filming of The Real World: Las Vegas in 2002. The MTV crew is long gone, but the party remains.

The three-tower property has a boisterous pool complex with three bars and a DJ, nine restaurants, a spa, and multiple nightclubs -- including the rooftop Ghost Bar, the dance club Rain, and the penthouse nightclub Moon. Chances are good that if you're staying at another hotel but want to party, the Palms will be one of your stops. However, its location west of the Strip and over a highway, makes it feel far from the main action. For another sinfully good party hotel that's closer to the Strip, check out the Hard Rock.

Location

This off-the-Strip resort isn't convenient to the other big casino-hotels.

Located on West Flamingo Road, about a mile west of the Strip -- Bellagio and Caesars are the two closest Strip hotels -- the Palms complex is, by Strip standards, quite isolated. A cab ride to the Strip takes about 15 minutes (depending on traffic and where on the Strip you're heading). The Rio is technically across the street but barely within walking distance since that street is Flamingo, an active four-lane east-west thoroughfare. The Palms has a shuttle service that goes to the Fashion Show Mall and Forum Shops at Caesars, but it's so infrequent (twice a day) that it's pretty useless.

The Palms hotel complex is spread among three towers: the Palms Tower, Fantasy Tower, and the Palms Place Condos tower. The sky tube, a hallway with a moving walkway, connects the Palms Place tower with the other two. The Fantasy Tower is home to some swanky suites.

Rooms

Rooms are large and ultra-modern, with great amenities and comfy beds.

Rooms have a "horizontal line" theme throughout, and look sleek and ulta-modern with whites and earth tones accented with bold pops of color like pink or purple. All rooms were renovated in 2012, and now even the lowest-category units are spacious and swanky. The hotel also offers suites and bungalows for the high rollers, including the Real World suite, and suites with a full basketball court, a bowling alley, or a Barbie theme.

All rooms include:

46-inch flat-screen TVs with premium cable and music channels

Serta pillow-top mattresses

Media hubs that connect laptops to surround sound and the large TV through USB and HDMI cables

Full recording studio, which has been used by Jay-Z, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Bayonce, and Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton

On-site movie theater

Pearl Concert Theater, a large, three-level concert venue

Family

This party-centric hotel isn't as family-oriented as many others in Vegas, especially in this price range. But babysitting is available, and the food court has kid-friendly options.

The food court

A party hotel like the Palms probably isn't the first choice for parents planning a family vacation in Vegas. But guests who bring kids along may appreciate some of the amenities the hotel offers. Babysitting for children ages six weeks to 12 years old is available at Kids Quest, a child-care center with branches in 21 casinos nationwide.

Heraea is a female-minded sports bar and restaurant (think a fine-dining version of Hooters, but for the ladies)

The Eatery is a foor court offers several dining options, including McDonald's, Nathan's Hot Dogs, and Blizz; some are open 24/7

Drinks

This party hotel boasts several destination nightclubs, which attract guests and nonguests alike.

Rojo bar

Even before the seven strangers of MTV's Real World: Las Vegas called it home in 2002, the Palms was known as a party hotel. And with celebrities dropping by nightclub Moon, it maintains that reputation.

Rain, the nightclub in the Palms Tower, is a lot of fun -- for those who can get in. It's a huge place with a main floor surrounded by balconies, smoke machines, giant monitors displaying abstract images, go-go dancers on platforms, and thumping music.

Ghostbar offers panoramic views of Vegas from the 55th floor.

Moon is a penthouse-level club in the Fantasy Tower.

Social is a whiskey bar located inside the casino.

Rojo is a chic lobby lounge with a dress code and a high-end food and drink menu.

The Mint Lounge has gaming and a full bar for players.

Scarlet offers a great cocktail menu in a sexy space.

The Palms also has the concert venue, Pearl.

Bottom Line

This three-tower, off-the-Strip hotel is known for its crazy parties and celebrity stopovers. It features 428 sleek rooms with up-to-date technologies; numerous popular clubs, and two large pool areas. But while there are some good restaurants, the food is not a main attraction, unlike at similarly priced Strip centerpieces such as MGM or Mandalay Bay, or even at off-the-Strip Hard Rock, which boasts a Nobu.